Veterans listen to a speaker as they look at job openings at the University of Southern California booth during a jobs fair for veterans called “Serving Those Who Have Served” on the University of Southern California campus, March 20, in Los Angeles.

The world of higher education is in full swing. Recent high school graduates are nearly halfway through their freshman year while the next crop of college candidates is in the throes of the application process. Hopefully, among this next crop will be thousands of returning U.S. service men and women – our veterans. Potential student veterans.

A recent Supreme Court ruling protects affirmative action in education – essentially allowing most colleges and universities to consider race as part of their admissions policy. In that context, I propose minority consideration for a very deserving group – our veterans.

Veterans – a minority? Surprising. But apply some fundamental definitions and veterans are the embodiment of a minority group.

Minority groups share a sense of collective identity and common burdens. Minority groups are prone to different treatment. Minority groups suffer a discrimination and subordination without consideration of individual personal achievement.

When it comes to college admissions, especially in our private colleges and universities, veterans are a distinct minority. Yes, there are colleges that support veteran enrollment. For instance, in Connecticut, tuition costs at public colleges and universities are waived for returning veterans. And the University of Michigan recently allowed veterans who qualify for admission to qualify for in-state tuition rates. In California and New Jersey, a handful of private colleges are working to incorporate more veterans into their schools’ student bodies by prioritizing veteran enrollment and setting high target numbers to measure the success of their efforts.

But these are the exceptions and not the rule. A fundamental flaw exists.

In a world where admissions rely heavily on current SAT scores and high school GPAs, veterans are at a competitive disadvantage. Admission guidelines are not designed for the minority of veteran student applicants.

Shouldn’t we find a way to quantify four years of defending one’s country? Do college admissions view veterans as assets to their educational communities? Do college admissions view veterans with equal intellectual potential as “traditional” students? Are the individual achievements of veteran applicants any consideration for admission?

Overall, considering the debt this country owes veterans – are we putting forth any extra efforts to admit veterans into our programs and schools?

For many years, leading public and private colleges and universities prominently considered race and ethnicity when deciding to admit or reject applicants, using a form of “Selection Index” with point values assigned to a variety of factors. They included: standardized test scores, grade point average, strength of curriculum, in-state residency, alumni relationships, personal achievement and race. Minority applicants automatically received a 20-point addition to their score.

With their training and life experience, why not give our veterans similar consideration as minority applicants?

Our returning veterans are typically better educated than the civilian population. Only 2 percent of veterans do not have a high school diploma compared to 13 percent of the civilian population. Forty-six percent of veterans have some college compared to 31 percent of civilians. And, as Thomas Meyer illustrates in his book titled “Serving Those Who Served,” “… young people who serve today exceed national norms, on average, in education and intelligence, health and character qualities. On the whole, it is most accurate to think of people who have served in the military as a national asset, rather than a problematic population.”

Our society values the service of our veterans – translating value into action benefits our society. It’s been cited that 2 million World War II veterans graduated from college on the original G.I. Bill, benefiting our country with an estimated 450,000 engineers, 240,000 accountants, 238,000 teachers, 91,000 scientists, 67,000 doctors, 22,000 dentists and thousands of other leaders.

As the next crop of applications filter in college and university admissions need to take a fresh approach to evaluating the admissions packets of our veterans. America cares deeply about its veterans. When it comes to veteran education, let’s give them the boost they deserve.

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